The food supply in the United States is among the safest in the world. However, certain disease-causing bacteria or pathogens can contaminate food, causing foodborne illnesses, or "food poisoning". The federal government estimates there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually–that's 1 in 6 Americans. Each year, these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.
Luckily, following four simple steps to food safety (clean, separate, cook, chill) from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) can help lower your chances of getting sick!
CLEAN hands and surfaces often
SEPARATE raw meats from other foods
COOK to the right temperature
CHILL foods promptly
The FDA also has handy tips on Everyday Food Safety for Young Adults, including Making Food Safe Choices While Eating Out, Food Safe Shopping, Storage and Meal Prep, and Food Safety in Your Kitchen.
For those who want to take their food safety education to the next level, CareerSafe offers OSHA 10-Hour General Industry (Culinary). This course covers culinary industry-specific hazards, as well as general industry OSHA safety training. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive an official OSHA 10-Hour card—an industry-recognized credential with lifelong value!
From cleaning fresh produce to stowing leftovers, make sure food safety is part of what you're cooking!